Scottsdale, Arizona

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The Hohokam people originally occupied the Salt River Valley in Arizona. The Hohokam lived there from roughly 300 BC to 1450 AD and were known for their complex network of irrigation canals, which could stretch for as long as 250 miles! The Hohokam vanished around 1450, probably due to a drought, and the area was taken over by the Pima and O’odham (Papago) people, who are thought to be direct descendants of the Hohokam.

The initial Pima settlement in the area was known as Vasai S-vasoni, or ‘rotting hay’. The first American settler in the area was U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott. If the Scottsdale government is to be believed, Scott bought 640 acres in the area in 1888 for $3.50 (the equivalent of $92 in today’s money). The town, which developed around Scott, was at first referred to as ‘Orangedale’, because of the large citrus groves Scott and his family grew. However, in 1894, the settlement’s name was permanently changed to Scottsdale. Scottsdale wasn’t officially incorporated until 1951, though.

Modern day Scottsdale has a population of 230,512 people, according to a 2014 US Census estimate. This makes Scottsdale the 95th most populous city in the country. Scottsdale is adjacent to the Greater Phoenix Area. That same 2014 US Census estimated the population of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area to be 4,489,109 people. This makes the Phoenix Metropolitan area the 12th most populous metropolitan area in the United States.

The Downtown Scottsdale Bulletin states that the tourism industry is the primary economic force in the city. In fact, it accounts for 39% of Scottsdale’s workforce. “In 2005, Scottsdale attracted over 7.5 million visitors…providing an economic impact of over $3.1 billion.”

There are more than 70 resorts and hotels (comprising 15,000 hotel rooms in total) in the Scottsdale area. Indeed, Scottsdale is tied with Atlanta for fourth (following New York City, Las Vegas, and Chicago) as having the most AAA Five-Diamond hotels and resorts in the country. The East Valley Tribune boasts Scottsdale as containing the highest number of destination spas per capita of any US city. Scottsdale also serves as the location for one of the three major branches of the Mayo Clinic.

Just outside Scottsdale is the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, serving two distinct tribes – the Pima and the Maricopa. US President Rutherford B. Hayes officially created this community on June 14th, 1879. It has a population of 9,537 people.

Scottsdale hosts the annual Scottsdale Arts Festival, and also the spring training facility (Scottsdale Stadium) for MLB’s San Francisco Giants. This stadium also serves as the home of the Scottsdale Scorpions, who play in the Arizona Fall League. They have two league titles to their name. Arizona United, of the United Soccer Leagues Professional Division, play their home matches in Scottsdale Stadium as well.

Do you own a small business in the Scottsdale area? Are you perhaps considering starting up one? These resources may prove beneficial to you: